Boone Residents Speak Out against Bakken Pipeline

Boone, IA: Last night, 50 concerned Boone county residents, Iowa CCI members, and landowners gathered at the Boone Fairgrounds at a community meeting to speak out against the proposed Bakken Pipeline, and share their experiences in dealing with Energy Transfer Partners, the Texas company that hopes to bring the pipeline into Iowa.

Many people emphasized their discontent at how Energy Transfer Partners has conducted themselves on the ground, using lies and manipulation to try to convince landowners that the pipeline won’t be a significant threat to their land.

A Boone County landowner, who preferred to remain anonymous, shared, “I feel like when you refuse to let them survey, they send threatening letters, and intimidate you with constant calling. It is harassment- we shouldn’t have to put up with this.” She went on to share that, “if the pipeline blows, we’re gone,” because the proposed route is just 300 feet from their house.

Beyond risks of leaks, spills, or explosions, many folks feel that eminent domain should not be used for this project, because it isn’t a public utility and won’t benefit everyday Iowans.

“A private, for profit corporation doesn’t have the right to impose themselves on the land that I own” said Dan Gannon, a landowner from Jasper County.

Many in the audience had already reached out to their legislators to show their support for Senate File 506, which would make it more difficult for ETP to use eminent domain for the project. The company would be required to get 75% of the landowners in the pipeline’s path to agree to voluntary easements- currently less than 15% of landowners have agreed to have the pipeline on their land, and many are committed to never allowing the pipeline to cross their land.

Yet as Boone resident Heidi Drees-White noted, “even if this doesn’t go through your land, this is your state.” All Iowans have a stake in fighting against this pipeline, and ensuring that landowners receive adequate protections against the manipulation of ETP.

Senate File 506 is still waiting to be called to a vote in the Senate. Iowa CCI urges all Iowans to reach out to their legislators and voice their support for this legislation, including Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal (D- Council Bluffs), who has the power to bring the legislation to a vote immediately.

Iowa CCI is part of a growing number of organizations, landowners, and everyday citizens across the state committed to stopping the proposed Bakken Pipeline from construction. Iowa CCI is currently working to plan community meetings across the state this summer in the 18 counties impacts by the proposed Bakken Pipeline.

Iowa CCI is a statewide, grassroots people’s action group that uses community organizing to win public policy that puts communities before corporations and people before profits, politics, and polluters.

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